Eldridge j



(No Model.) I

E. J. SMITH.

FOLDING 'GHAIR. No. 251,478. Patented Dec. 27,1881

NITED STATES PATENT Orrin.

FOLDlNG CHAIR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 251,478, dated December 27, 1881.

Application filed April 23, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELDRIDGE J. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, resident at Washington, in the county of Washington and District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Chairs; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part ofthis specification.

Figure l is a perspective of the chair. Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 are details.

My invention relates to the construction of that class of chairs usually called campchairs 5 and the invention consists in the construction and arrangement of the parts hereinalter specified, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The letter A of the drawings represents an ordinary back-frame of a chair, which is connected with the cross-legs B by pivot-pins, as shown at c.

The letter D represents the chair-seat, which is formed of a series of wooden slats strung on spring-wires and separated by coiled springs, as shown, said slatted fabric being the same as is described in Letters Patent granted to me November 24, le77,and numbered 198,421.

Fig. 5 of the drawings represents a method for attaching the wires of the seat to the front slat. It will be observed that I form barbs on the wires, which are pointed toward the rear end of the seat. I then perforate the slat and force the wires in to such perforations the proper distance. The barbs will then engage with the grain of the wood and hold the wire securely in position.

The letter G represents a casting, which consists of the plate H, of length sufficient to form a rest for two slats of seat when strung on the wires. It is further provided with a ring, K, and a perforated lug, L. Said ring is adapted to clasp one of the seat-wires, and is of sufficient width to serve as a substitute for a coiled (No model.

spring to keep the slats separated, and said lug serves as a means for pivoting the seat to the swinging bar, as next mentioned.

The letter P represents a swinging bar, pivoted at its lower end to a leg, B, while its upper end is pivoted to the lug IJ. I arrange one of these bars on each side of the chair.

My method of attaching the seat to the backframe is as follows, namely: I take the rear end of a seat-wire and bend it in the form of a crank, as shown on Fig. 4. I then make a suitable opening in the side rail of the backframe and pass the extreme end of the wire therein, as shown in dotted lines on Fig.1. It is obvious that while by these means the rear of the seat becomes pivoted to the back-frame it is accomplished in such manner that when the seat is thrown backward its front end swings to a point beyond a perpemlicularline, because the hinge at the rear operates with a crank movement, throwing the rear of the seat forward. When the seat is thus thrown backward, its front beyond the perpendicular, the chair is easily transported like a walking-cane.

The peculiar construction of my casting G is fully represented on Figs?andGofthedrawings.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination, substantially as described, of the back-frame, the seat-slats, and their supporting-wires passing through the slats and bent into crank form at the rear to act as seat-pivots, as set forth.

2. The combination of the cross-legs, the seat composed of slats and their supportingwires passing through them, the casting Gr, having plate H, ring K, and lug L, and the swinging bar 1:, the seat being pivoted to the back frame, the supporting wire passing through the ring K, and the swinging bar connecting the lug L to the'rear leg, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELDRIDGE J. SMITH- IVitnesses THEO. MUNGEN, PHILIP O. MASL 

